Patna: A stage is set up with a massive cutout of Lalu Prasad Yadav and his daughter Rohini Acharya in Bihar’s Saran parliamentary seat. Slogans of “Lalu Yadav zindabad” fill the air as supporters wait to hear their leader’s voice.
However, the once ubiquitous orator and perennial star campaigner for his Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), 75-year-old Lalu is fighting both age and ailments and will no longer showcase his gift of the gab.
Now operating from the RJD office on the fringes of Chhapra, Lalu’s family doctor Surendra Prasad, a retired doctor of Patna Medical College and Hospital, frequently drives about 130 km to Chhapra from Patna to check on his health.
“I arrived on the 14th and will stay until the polls on 20 May,” Lalu told ThePrint.
The former Bihar chief minister has set up camp in Saran, where his 44-year-old daughter Rohini is contesting against the seasoned adversary Rajiv Pratap Rudy of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 20 May elections.
Though his public appearances are limited to occasional waves to supporters, Lalu’s presence still stirs up chants of support — albeit without his signature speeches.
“Usually, I sit on the office verandah and meet my leaders and supporters,” said Lalu, who has been advised to maintain a distance from people.
The RJD chief, who suffers from chronic hypertension, diabetes, and heart issues, underwent a kidney transplant last December in Singapore, with Rohini as the donor.
To protect his new kidney, doctors have advised minimal public interaction. “If it were up to him, Lalu ji would have campaigned intensely across the Lok Sabha seat, but we have restrained him,” remarked Bhola Yadav, his close aide and former RJD MLA.
However, for Lalu’s supporters like Dharmendar Yadav, his absence leaves a major void. “We rarely get to see Lalu ji. On Wednesday, even Rohini had a heat stroke and has been inside the office building for the last two days,” he said.
“It’s not the same as Lalu ji is frequently ill.”
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Down but confident
Despite age and ailments, Lalu is mentally alert and continues to meet his party leaders amid the strict “maintaining distance” protocol.
On Thursday evening, Abdul Bari Siddiqui, an RJD MLC, briefed him on a meeting with Muslim constituents. “We have arranged a meeting with Muslims. You have to be just present,” he told the leader, to which he responded with a nod.
Another leader discussed electoral strategies with the Kushwaha community, asking them not to vote for Rudy. “I told the Kushwahas they should not vote for a Rajput,” he told Lalu and also got a nod.
Right then a woman sought Lalu’s intervention as her shop was being razed. “Okay, I will do it,” he remarked, understanding her plea albeit with some difficulty.
Going about his daily meetings, Lalu may come across as frail but remains confident of his victory this time. “The voters of Saran are the most intelligent in India. They know where to press the button. I am confident of winning the election,” he told ThePrint.
Questioned about electoral setbacks in the Saran parliamentary race in the last two Lok Sabha elections, he said, “The voters were misinformed. We are getting the support of all sections of the society and I am confident this time.”
Talking about the BJP candidate and sitting MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Lalu said, “Rudy does not have any political significance in front of me.”
The RJD leader, places his hopes on his son Tejashwi Yadav, who was actively campaigning for his sister in one of the blocks of Saran Thursday.
“My son Tejashwi’s health conditions are bad and he is unable to move. Still, he is doing 10 rallies a day and drawing huge crowds. People, particularly the youth are attracted to him. The youths know that Tejashwi can offer them jobs,” Lalu remarked.
“The INDIA bloc will not only win in Saran and Bihar, but across the nation,” he asserted.
Claiming that “there is no Modi wave,” Lalu said. “Narendra Modi is doing politics through lies. He promised two crore jobs per year. He promised to bring back money stashed abroad. He opened accounts for everyone but where is the money in these accounts?”
Lalu & Saran
Lalu Prasad’s political journey and the significance of the Saran Lok Sabha seat are deeply intertwined. The Saran and Pataliputra constituencies are considered bastions of the RJD — with party members rarely contesting the family’s claim to these seats.
Lalu first triumphed in Saran in 1977, marking the beginning of his parliamentary career at the young age of 29. He later reclaimed the seat in both the 2004 and 2009 elections. Although he was victorious in Madhepura in 2004, he chose to vacate that seat in favour of Saran — solidifying its status as his stronghold.
The RJD faced a significant setback in 2009, securing only four out of Bihar’s 40 Lok Sabha seats, with Saran being one of the few successes under Lalu’s representation.
However, his expulsion from the Lok Sabha following a conviction in the fodder scam shifted the political landscape in Saran.
In 2009, his wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi lost to Rajiv Pratap Rudy. In 2019, Lalu again fielded his eldest son’s father-in-law (now estranged) Chandrika Rai, who also lost to Rudy.
As Lalu ages and contends with health issues, there is a growing realisation within the RJD that the upcoming Lok Sabha election may be his final opportunity to regain his position in Saran. Despite the challenges, RJD leaders acknowledge the difficulty of the task ahead.
“The key to Rohini’s victory is the ability of the party to go beyond Muslims and Yadavs,” said an RJD legislator.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
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